Veterinary Blog

            At Hillside Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to ensuring all of our patients receive the best care possible. We tailor our approach to fit the needs for specific age groups, as well as identifying specific needs for the individual pet. Companion pets age at a much faster rate in comparison to humans. For this reason, it is important to have an established senior wellness protocol to help an aging companion live a longer, healthier, and a more comfortab […]

Hillside Animal Hospital’s veterinarians and staff are happy to announce that they recently enrolled in the  the American Veterinary Medical Foundation’s Veterinary Care Charitable Fund. This program was created to support veterinarians who provide medical services to the lost, neglected and abused animals that find their way into our hospital. The program also allows us to care for animals in our community when their owners face extraordinary hardships. By partnering […]

–By Dr. Claire Beckmeyer ​Just when you think you have your male cat figured out, there he is standing there, squatting in the middle of your bedroom floor and staring oddly at you. “Boots, what has gotten into you?”, you say as you cock your head and stare back at him. Then he meows in a strange tone and leaves a drop of blood on the floor. You follow him to his litter box where he continues to strain with little to no urine production. If this is a scene you have never before witnesse […]

Ah-Ha!! We are here to bring you an “ah-ha” moment. Did you know that Hillside Animal Hospital is AAHA (said “ah-ha”) accredited? AAHA is an acronym for American Animal Hospital Association. In 2015 Hillside joined the elite 12-15% of companion animal hospitals around the country in becoming an accredited member of this association. We were evaluated on approximately 900 rigorous veterinary standards. There are a total of 3700 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada that […]

Things That Go Bump in the NightHas this situation ever happened to you? It’s a quiet night at home when suddenly your dog starts panting, drooling, and whining. He/she starts pacing around the house, looking for a place to hide. You wonder what is going on. A few minutes later you hear the first rumble of thunder. As the storm rages, you try to comfort your dog. Despite your efforts, he/she is visibly shaken and in distress. Even after the storm has passed, your dog ha […]

–Jayme, Hillside Veterinary TechnicianHave you ever found yourself in a vet clinic in pure shock? That’s exactly where I found myself one afternoon. I brought my dog, Woodrow, in for an examination because he got into the trash can and was experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. I fully expected him to have what we refer to in the veterinary world as “garbage gut”. I already had in my mind that we would probably do some fluid therapy, medications to help his gut, and a bland diet […]

As some may be aware, as of January 1, 2020, Hillside Animal Hospital is under new ownership. This is a very exciting time, as we announce Drs. Anna and Aaron as our new practice owners! Our goal with this Q&A, was to allow you, our dedicated clients, to get to know them on a different level.Question: Where did you attend vet school?Dr.’s Anna and Aaron: University of Missouri- Columbia Question: How long have you been in practice?Dr.’s Anna and Aaron: 6 years this Ma […]

by Carolyn Torno, RVT, Fear Free Certified Professional Level 3, Low Stress Handling Certified SilverStress – we all experience it when going to our doctor. Our heart races, blood pressure rises, and we just want to get it over with. While we can express our fears and anxieties to our health professionals, our pets cannot. In fact, a 2014 study conducted by Bayer Veterinary Healthcare showed that 37% of dog owners and 58% of cat owners believe that their pet hates veterinary visits. They […]

Descriptions of rabies go back thousands of years as it has classically been one of the most feared infections of all time. It is caused by a rhabdovirus that, in most cases, the disease is transmitted through a bite wound. So, you may find yourself asking, why does my indoor cat or dog that only goes outside to potty need a rabies vaccine? And the answer is, wildlife CAN and WILL come inside. The most common wildlife species to spread rabies in Missouri are the skunk, bat, raccoon, fox a […]

When our veterinarians ask you if we can perform a fine needle aspirate on your pet what we should say is, “We need an FNA ASAP.”FNAs (or fine needle aspirates) are a diagnostic tool that we can use in our office, for a relatively low cost. They can give us important answers to the new lump that you found on Fido. Fine needle aspirates are performed very quickly in the exam room. The procedure involves inserting a needle into a growth either on or just below the skin in the subcutaneous a […]